Danny Baker v. Robert Elms: Somebody's Show Has Got to Go, Says BBC

Budget cut of 25% forces BBC London 94.9 into radio version of Sophie's Choice

DANNY BAKER and Robert Elms are set to do battle for the BBC London 94.9 afternoon slot, after the radio station announced cuts of 25% to its budget.

"It's likely that there'll be one afternoon programme, but who presents it is yet to be decided,” said a BBC spokesperson.

"This new programme would be broadcast not just in London, but to other regional stations in the south-east."

Elms currently broadcasts from 12 noon to 3pm, with Baker in the 3pm-5pm slot. It is possible the morning show will be extended to 1pm in the new arrangement and Drivetime moved forward to 4pm, leaving a three hour afternoon show to be filled by Baker or Elms.

The likelihood that one of station's biggest names faces the axe roused Baker to action via his Twitter account.

"So the BBC London afternoon show – current Sony Gold holder – is to be part of the Delivering Quality First cuts,” said Baker.

“The logic of Genius. Nothing like having your show axed to let you know how valued you are."

Elms received plenty of Tweets in support of his own cause, after he asked listeners to make their voices heard:

"This is a consulatation period about the cuts, you are invited to make your voice heard on BBC London being decimated. Please do," Elms said on Twitter.

Although it has confirmed the one-afternoon-slot plan, the BBC says that no show has been axed yet.

"BBC London will be sharing some programmes, but which programmes and who presents them is yet to decided. Danny hasn't been told his show’s been axed, because it hasn't been," said the spokesperson.

BBC London's 25% cuts are are part of a wider cuts package revealed by the BBC yesterday. On a national level, the cuts percentage is 20%.

I've listened to both presenters since the good old days of GLR.
Both have their annoying habits and likes and dislikes. It's called being human.

I enjoy both shows for completely different reasons. Robert for the London Stuff.
Dan for the music and humor.

If someone held a gun to my head, I'd have to choose Dan.
No-one on radio can do what he does. Two or three times a show I find myself laughing out loud!
I have to be careful I don't have a mouth full of tea sometimes!

Keep them both and get rid of the annoying drive time show.
We want cheering up at the moment, not copycat news reports from earlier news found in earlier BBC reports. I bet if you put Dan on at five against the Drive-time show, he'd get more listeners!!!!

I know Elms can appear a bit smug, but I like him, in fact I like him a lot more than DB. I've learnt so much about London and his show going national just wouldn't work.
On the other hand maybe DB's would? It's the BBC's best gift to London.

Another point to make is that i travel lots and as soon as I'm out of 94.9 reception its podcasts (including Elms) and radio 4 because the standard of BBC local radio is awful.

In Northants Clive called to ask what sort of coating he should have on his conservatory roof to protect it from heating up too much.
Callers phoned in with suggestions, but we had to wait until after the news when Clive was called back and we were all going to find out if he's gone for some sort of sun deflecting paint or.... yep you've guessed it blinds.

Maybe we should start an indie talk station that isn't a load of right wing crap and have Elms on it.

Robert Elms is overdue a rethink as his show is looking tired. He appears so self-centred in an ugly way with his constant need to out-do his guests. If he hasn't been there, met the King of Bhutan or seen them live/backstage then you can feel the sulk coming through the radio grille. Add to that the perma-grinning cabbie wotcha-cock luvaduck parlance that oddly melts away on his other tv/radio4 appearances and you have a disingenouous fraud, interupting guests, laughing at his own wit and lounge-louching his way through the slot.
The idea of him sharing a show with Danny Baker is very amusing, with Dannys often repeated explicit dislike of self-regarding nonsense.. can you imagine what he, Baylen and Amy think of working with the preening peacockny currently separated from them only by the news.
Keep Danny and his hilarious show and truly fabulous music.
Jimmy Chislet

Would Robert's Saturday show be axed too? His shows are what BBC London is supposed to be about. If they are to get rid of anyone I say change the Breakfast Show presenters. Paul Ross is irritation and talks over guests.